Strip feed mechanism



May 5, 1936- I A. s. HOWELL y@39,906

STRIP FEED MEGHANI SM Filed April ll, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheetl /Mm uw@ f5 gi 27 May 5, 1936. A. s. HOWELL l 2,039,906

STRIP FEED MECHANISM Filed'April 11, 1934 3 sheets-sheet 2 May 5, 1936. A, 5, HOWELL 2,039,906

STRIP FEED MECHANISM Filed April 11, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3` Patented May 5, 1936 STRIP FEEDl MECHANISM Albert S. Howell, Chicago, lll., assignor to The Bell & Howell Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April `11, 193.4, serial No. 720,098 s claims. (Cl. asf-18.4)

My invention relates particularly to motion picture film strip feed mechanism although not limited to this use alone.

In motion picture film feed mechanism involving an intermittent feed of the 111m it is Customary to employ a constant `film feed means usually a revoluble sprocket means, for feeding the film to and from the intermittent feed station of the lm, compensating loops in the film being i0 maintained between the intermittent feed station and the constant film feed means to compensate between the intermittent and constant feed of the iilm.

Itis the primary object of my invention to provide a novel and effective strip feed mechanism wherein, though the constant strip feed means is eliminated, compensation is atleast partially, and preferably substantially, provided between the intermittent feed of the iiimand a uniform l0 constant feed ofthe strip.

.y With this object in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said object and certain other objects, hereinafter appearing, are eifected,all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the said drawings- Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of a motion `picture camera embodying my invention with Yparts removed and shown in section;

, Figure 2 is a partial sectional view taken oppov sitely with respect to Figure 1;

30 Figure 3 is a partial sectional view ofthe camera taken on a transverse vertical plane and looking forwardly; A

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the cam shaft showing the cams thereon, hereinafter described,

40 in front elevation; y f

' Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are partialdiagrammatic views of the film engaging parts of the mechanism and showing them in the different positions thereof in their cycle of operation; and- Figure 9 i., diagrammatic illustration showing the film feeding action of the mechanism.

Referring to Figures 1, 2'and 3, a casing I encloses the mechanism, and a vertical frame plate 2 divides the enclosure of the casing to form a,

in mechanism chamber and a film chamber adjacent the open side of the casing which open side is normally closed by a detachable cover, not shown. A vertically disposed intermittent nlm feed guide is associated 'with the intermediate portion of the front wall of the casing in the plane of the aforesaid film chamber and consists as, follows: A vertically elongated plate I is against the rear face vof the front wall of" the Y o casing and constituteslthe front face guidewall of the guide.4 Carriedaior pivotal movement at its upper end on a transverse axis, by means of a suitable mounting I carried by the frame plate 2, is a guide block 5 on which is mounted, for limited forward movement, a rear face guide plate 6 which is spring pressed forwardly with 5 respect tothe guide block l, in a manner unnecessary to be described, to engage a film l in the guide between it and .the front guide plate 3, the film being guided edgewise by a guide rail l at oneedge of the' film and aspring'edge guide 10 member 9 spring pressed against the other edge of the film.Y 'l'he guide block i is pivoted on the mounting 4, for rearward movement for lacing the film in the guide and is secured invits forward film guiding position by a releasable locking device 15 generally designated at I I in Figure 1.

The front face guide plate 3 is provided with an intermediate exposure aperture I2 through which the film is exposed-in the guide, and the nlm is intermittently fed in the guide for the 20 progressive exposure thereof by means of an intermittent feed mechanism now to be described.

An intermittent lm feed shuttle plate I3 of elongated rectangulary form is disposed longituv dinally of and in parallelism with the front face guide plate l and immediately in iront of the same and is engaged for vertical reciprocating v movement longitudinally of the guide ina slide Il formed in the rearface of the front wall of the casing. 30

'I'he shuttle plate I3 has a pair of parallel resilient arms I5 struck up from intermediate metal of the plateand connected to one marginal end of the plate and extending 4longitudinally of the l movement thereof toward the other end of the plate. VSee Figure 3. These arms are set to normally extend rearwardly out of the plane of the plateand the free ends thereof are formed, as designated at I6, for ratchet engagement with the usual longitudinally spaced marginal perforations 40 I1 Aof the film 1 in the guide to move the film downwardly in the guide with the down. stroke of the shuttle plate and. to slide over the film on the up stroke of the shuttle plate for engagement with other perforations of the film for intermittently feeding the lm in the guide with recipmcatlon of the shuttle plate, the frictional engagement of the nlm in the guide maintaining the registration of the film during its rest periods.

The arms I 5 engage the fllm in the guide 50 through longitudinal slots Il in the guide plate 3 at the sides of the exposure aperture I2, and the intermediate metalof the shuttle plate is removed to provide an intermediate opening exposing the exposure apertureV I2 of the front face 55 guide plate.

Astud I9 is secured on the front wall of a shal- "lowhusing member 2|,- which is secured on the t frontifaceofthe front wall of the casing I, and e'xtenasirearnrdiy-wwunthe enclosure u tm. oo

housing member, and a spur gear 22 is rotatably mounted on the stud i! `in the enclosure of the housing member. 'Ihe gear 22 is provided with a vrearwardly projecting crank stud 2l which engages a transverse slot 24 in the lower marginal end portion of the shuttle plate 2 for reciprocation of the shuttle plate with rotation of this gear to intermittently feed a nlm in the guide.'

A segmental light shutter 25 is disposed in the enclosure of the housing member 2l and is secured on the gear 22 at the front thereof for intermittently covering the exposure aperture I2 or while the nlm is being intermittently moved in the guide.

A forwardly and rearwardly extending shaft 26 is mounted for rotation within the casing I at the inside of the frame plate 2 and has its forward end extending through and.y journaled in a bore through the front wall of the casing. See Figures 2 and 3. A spur gear 21, disposed within the enclosure of the housing member 2|, is secured on the front end of the shaft 26 and meshes with the gear 22 for actuation of the intermittent nlm feeding mechanism with rotation of the shaft 26, the gears 22 and 21 having the same pitch diameter so that the shaft 26 and gear 22 rotate in one to one timed relation.

The mechanism above described is similar to that described and claimed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,767,848. issued June 24, 1930, upon appli'- cation nled by me, for improvement in Motion picture camera and the like, and requires no further description herein.

As is usual, the nlm 1 is fed to and from rolls' thereof on nlm reels 2l rotatably mounted in a usual manner within the nlm chamber of the camera, as shown, the nlm being drawn from the upper nlm reel and taken up by the lower nlm reel which is frictionally driven for this purpose from the mechanism of the camera as is usual.

In order to at least partially compensate, and, as shown, to substantially compensate, between the intermittent feed of the nlm in the exposure guide and a uniform constant feed of the nlm. say at the nlm reels, I provide the following.

Two vertically spaced rollers 2l are revolubly mounted on transverse axes, as designated at Il, upon brackets 32 securedk on the outside of the frame pl'ate 2, these rollers being spaced a short distance rearwardly of the plane of the nlm 1 in the intermittent nlm feed guide. Two additional vertically spaced rollers 32 are revolubly mounted on transverse axes, as designated at 34, upon brackets 35 secured on the outside of the frame plate 2, these rollers being arranged immediately to the rear of the rollers 20 and each immediately adjacent a roller'2l.

Thenlm1islaced,asshowninFigures 1 and 5, to extend from the nlm reels 2l between the adjacent rollers 2l and 33, and to form substantially semi-circular compensating loops 26, having the interiors thereof opposing each other, between the rollers 29 and the adjacent ends of the nlm guide, the rollers 2l connnlng the loops 36 and the rollers 33 maintaining the nlm properly engaged with the rollers 2|.

Disposed on the inside of the frame plate 2 is a vertically extending carrier 21 which is n aunted for vertical movement by means of the ends thereof being vertically slotted, as designated at 3l, and engaged in grooves 3l of studs 4| which aremountedonthecasing I. SeeFigures2 and 3.

Two vertically spaced studs 42 are secured on the carrier member 31 and extend transversely therefrom through vertically elongated openings 43 in the frame plate 2 and into the nlm chamber, and rollers 44 are rotatably mounted on the studs 42 in the nlm chamber for engagement with the opposing interiors of the compensating loops 2i.

'I'he carrier 31 and the rollers 44 are thus recprocable in a path to alternately expand the loops 36, and the carrier and rollers 44 are reciprocated in one to one timed relation with the intermittent nlm feeding mechanism in the following manner.

Formed on the carrier 31 are two vertically spaced and transversely disposed projections 45 vand 46 which are offset forwardly and rearwardly and of which the projection 45 is disposed above and the projection 46 is disposed below the shaft 2i. Formed on the shaft 26 are two complemental cams 41 and 48 of which the cam 41 engages upwardly against the projection 45 for actuating the carrier 31 upwardly and of which the cam 46 engages downwardly against the projection 46 for. actuating the carrier 31 downwardly, these cams functioning in complement toreciprocate the carrier with rotation of the shaft 26 in one to one timed relation with the intermittent film feeding mechanism.

The magnitude of the reciprocation of the carrier 21 and the-rollers 44, effected by the cams 41 and 4l, is in the order of one quarter of that of the intermittent nlm feed movement of the intermittent feeding mechanism and the timing of these `cams with reference to the intermittent feeding mechanism is such that during the feed period of the intermittent feed mechanism these rollers substantially follow, but in a magnitude less than that of the intermittent nlm strip feed movement of the intermittent feeding means, the action of the intermittent feed movement of the film upon the loops 36, the opposite stroke of the rollers 44 occurring during the rest period of the intermittent feed of the nlm.

`As a result the nlm is drawn from the upper or feed reel 22 and is permitted to be wound on the lower or take up reel 28 during both the intermittent feed period and the rest period of the intermittent feeding mechanism, the rollers 44 limiting the contraction of the loops 36 and expanding the same in timed relation with the intermittent nlm feeding mechanism.

Referring to the upper loop 36, during the nlm feeding period of the intermittent feed mechanism the upper roller 44 moves downwardly with the nlm in the guide but inl a magnitude of approximately one quarter of that f the intermittent feed movement of the nlm which results in the nlm being drawn from the upper or feed reel 2l. During the rest period of the intermittent .feed mechanism, the upper roller 44 moves upwardly and expands the loop which results in nim being drawn from the upper or feed reel 28, the amount of nlm drawn from the upper or feed reel 26 during a feed cycle of the intermittent feed mechanism being equal to an intermittent feed movement of the nlm in the guide.

Referring to the lower loop 36, the action of the lower roller 44 is the same upon the lower loop as that of the upper roller 44 on the upper loop, but the driving of the lower or take up reel 2l, above referred to, serves to contract the lower nlm loop while ,the intermittent feed mechanism feeds the nlm to the lower loop.

In order that the feed movement of the nlm at the reels 2l shall be substantially constant and uniform, the cams 41 and 40 are constructed and timed in relation with the intermittent mechanism as follows:

Referring to Figure 4, the line I, which extends through the axis of the cams 41 and 48, indicates the high point of the cam 41 and the corresponding diametrically opposite vlow point of the cam 48, and the line 52, which also extends through the axis of the cams 41 and 48, indicates the low point of the cam 41 and the corresponding diametrically opposite high point of the cam 48.

The lines 5I and 52 are angularly spaced, as shown 36, so that one stroke of the carrier 31 occurs within less than 180 of the angular movement of the cams 41 and 48whereas' the opposite stroke of the carrier 31 occupies more than 180 feed ` of the angular movement of the cams 41 and 48.

The timing of the cams 41 and 48 with the intcrmittent feed mechanism is such that both reversals of the carrier 31 occur during the film feed stroke of the feed shuttle I3, both reversals of the carrier 31 thus occurring during the film feed period of the intermittent feed mechanism.

The intermittent feed ofthe film in the guide by the intermittent feed mechanism and the reciprocation of the rollers 44, with the carrier 31, cooperate in controlling the character of the film feed at the reels 28. That is to say, while the film is intermittently fed in the guide, the rollers 44 in their timed reciprocation with the intermittent feed mechanism and by reason of their control of-the film loops 35 serve to effect the feed of the film at the reels 28, or on the sides of the film loops opposite those at which the intermittent feed station is disposed, during both the film feed and rest periods of the intermittent feed mechanism.

As both of the reversals of the carrier 31 occur during the film feed period of the intermittent feed mechanism, the feed of the film at the reels 28 is constant or continuous in that the shut-f film during the reversals of Y tle I3 is feeding the the carrier 3 1.

Referring to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, Figure 5 illustrates the feed condition at the initiation of ity of the film in the guide increases toward the maximum velocity thereof at the medial portion of the downward stroke of the shuttle, and the reversal of the rollers 44 at the upper end of their stroke takes place at la point in the downward film feed stroke of the shuttle adjacent the upper end thereof where the velocity of the film in the guide is sufficiently great to effect the proper velocity of feed of the film at-the reels.

After this point in the downward or film feed movement of the shuttle. the rollers 44 move downwardly and compensate for the increasing rate of feed of the lm in the guide by their control of the loops 38, as indicated in Figure 6, so that the velocity of the nlm movement at the reels does not increase correspondingly.

As the shuttle approaches the lower end of its feed movement, the velocity o f the feed of the film in the guidedecreases and Areaches a velocaosaooe ity which is that of the aforesaid proper velocity of the feed of the film at the reels, and at this point the rollers 44 are reversed, as indicated in Figure 7, after which the shuttle reaches. the lower end of its feed movement and terminates the intermittent feed movement of the film in the guide, the upward movement of the rollers 44 continuing the movement of the fllm at the reels 28.

During the upward 'or return stroke of the shuttle, during which the film in the guide is at rest, the rollers 44 are moving upwardly and are thus continuing the movement of the film at the reels 28, as indicated in Figure 8.

Thus, the movement of the film at the reels 28 occurs during both the intermittent feed and rest periods of the film in the guide and is continuous by reason of the timing of the reversals of the rollers 44 with the intermittent feed mechanism so that both reversals of the rollers 44 take place during the intermittent feed of the As shown the movement of the film at the reels is not only continuous, but, due to the timing of the reversals of the rollers 44 with the intermittent feeding mechanism and the formation of the cams 41 and 48, is substantially uniform, as is illustrated in Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 9, thespace between the vertical lines 53 and 54 represents a cycle of the intermittent feed mechanism, and the space between the horizontal lines 55 and 56 represents the extent of an intermittent feed movement of the film in the guide. The line 51 represents an intermittent feedfmovement of the film in the guide which varies in velocity as indicated, the intermittent feed period of the film in the guide being indicated as occurring between the line 53 and intermediate vertical line 58 and the rest period of the film in the guide being indicated as occurring between the lines 58 and 54.

A uniform constant feed movement of. the film during a cycle of the intermittent feed mechanism and equal to the intermittent. film feed movement of the intermittent feed mechanism is indicated by the diagonal line 58 which extends from the line 53 to the line 54.

Thev feed movement of the film at thereels 28 as eifected by the rollers 44 in cooperation with the intermittent feed movement is indicated by theline 8| extending between the lines 53 and 58 and the portion of the line 58 being between the lines 58 and 54 which continues the line 6I.

It wilisbe observed that the line 8l is, ue to practical considerations with reference to the intermittent feed movement as shown, a moderatelysinuous one indicating a slight deviation from a uniform movement of the film at the reels 28 during the intermittent feed period of the film inthe guide, but the deviation is so slight that for practical purposes the movement of the lm at the reels is a substantially uniformly constant movement as is desired.

Having thus described my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details described as changes may be readily made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a strip feed device the combination with;y

means for intermittently feeding a strip, of al member engageable with the interior of a 'compensating loop in the fed stripv and mounted for i movement in a path to expand the' same, and means driven with said feeding means for reciprocating said loop engaging member in said path in one to one timed relation with the feeding cycle of said feeding means and in a magnitude less than that of the intermittent strip feed movement of said feeding means and adapted to at least partially compensate between the intermittent feed of the strip on one side of said loop and a uniform constant feed of the strip on the other side of said loop.

2. In a strip feed device the combination with means for intermittently feeding a strip, of a member engageable with the interior of a substantially semi-circular compensating loop in the fed strip and mounted for movement in a path to expand the same, and means for reciprocating said loop engaging member in said path in one to one timed relation with the feeding cycle of said feeding means and in a magnitude in the order of one quarter of that of the intermittent strip feed movement of said feeding means and adapted to effect both reversals of the reciprocating movement of said loop engaging member during the intermittent feed period of said feeding means and adapted to substantially compensate between the intermittent feed of the strip on one side of said loop and a uniform constant feed of the strip on the other side of said loop. Y

3. In a strip feed device the combination with a strip feed guide and means for intermittently feeding a strip in the guide, of a device engageable with the opposing interiors of compensating loops in the fed strip at opposite ends of said guide and mounted for reciprocation in a path to alternately expand said loops, and means for reciprocating said loop engaging device in said path in one to one timed relation with said feeding means and adapted to at least partially comn pensate between the intermittent feed of the strip in said guide and a uniform constant feed of the strip on the sides of said loops opposite those on which said guide is disposed.

4. In a strip feed device the combination with a strip feed guide and means for intermittently feeding a strip in the guide,of a device engageable with the opposing interiors of substantially semi-circular compensating loops in the fed strip at opposite ends of said guide and mounted for reciprocation longitudinally of said guide to alternately expand said ioops, and means for reciproeating said loop en device in said path in one to one timed relation with said feeding means and in a magnitude in the order of one quarter of that of the intermittenti'strip feed movement of said feedingmeans and adapted to effect both reversals of the reciprocating movement of said loop engaging member during the intermittent feed period of said feeding means and adapted to substantially compensate between the intermittent feed of the strip in said guide and a uniform constant feed of the strip on the sides of said loops opposite those on which said guide is disposed 5. In a motion picture machine the combination with a film strip feed guide, means for inter'- mittently feeding a perforated film strip in said guide and means for carrying a roll of the fed nlm strip and permitting rotation of said roll, of means affording a compensating loop in the film strip between said roll and an end of said guide. a member engageable with the interior of means and in a magnitude less than that of the intermittent film strip feed movement of said feeding means and adapted to at least partially compensate between the intermittent feed of the film strip in saidv guide and a uniform constant feed of the strip on the other side of said loop.

6. In a motion picture machine the combination with a film strip guide. means for intermittently feeding a perforated film strip in said guide and means for carrying a roll of the fed film strip and permitting rotation of said roll, of means ailordingV a substantially semi-circular compensating loop in the film strip between said roll and an end of the guide, a member engageable with the interior of said loop and mounted for movement in a path to expand the same, and means driven with said feeding means for reciprocating said loop engaging member in said path in one to one timed relation with the feeding cycle of said feeding means and in a magnitude in the order of one quarter of that of the intermittent strip feed movement of said feeding means and adapted to effect both reversals of the reciprocating movement of said loop engaging member during the intermittent feed period of said feeding means and adapted to substantially compensate between the intermittent feed of the strip in said guide and a uniform constant feed of the strip on the other side of said strip.

7. In a motion picture machine the combination with a film strip guide, means for intermittently feeding a perforated film strip in said guide and means for carrying rolls of the fed film strip beyond opposite ends of said guide and permitting rotation of said rolls, of means aiford ing compensating loops in the fed strip at opposite ends of said guide, Vsaid loops having the interiors thereof opposing each other, a device engageable with the opposing interiors of said loops and mounted for reciprocation in a path to alternately expand the same, and means for reciprocating said loop engaging device in said path in timed relation with said feeding means and adapted to at least partially compensate between the intermittent feed ofthe strip in said guide and a uniform constant feed of the strip on the sides of said loops opposite those on which said guide is disposed.

8. In a motion picture machine the combination with a film strip guide, means for intermitsubstantially semi-circular compensating loops I.

in the fed strip at opposite ends of said guide, said loops having the interiors thereof opposing each other. a device engageable with the oppo' ing interiors of said loops and mounted for reciprocation in a path to alternately expand the same, and means for reciprocating said loop engaging device in said path in one to one timed relation with said feeding means and in a magnitude in the order of one quarter of that of the intermittent strip feed movement of said feeding means and adapted to effect both reversals of the reciprocating movement of said loop engazing member during the intermittent feed period of said feeding means and adapted to submntially compensate between the intermittent feed of the strip in said guide and a uniform constant feed of the strip on the sides of said loops'opposite those on which said guide is ALBERT 8. HOWELL. 

